Re: Re: [PHP] need an idea, please help

For 'real-time' interaction, you are going to have to use javascript IMHO. On several projects I have used a hidden <iframe> that loads a page with a meta refresh tage in it. This page is a simple script that querries a database, reads a file, or does what ever, and then transfers that info to javascript variables in a parent page, and then calls a javascript function to update the screen. Mind you most of these projects are intranet based, so I have a controlled browser enviroment: IE5 on Windows. Now to avoid using javascript, you could have the meta refresh tag in the main page, but that induces a terrible flicker even if your doing as little as echo-ing out a single charactor. Not to mention when you get into Netscape (espessially on linux) that doesn't seem to properly cache images. I really don't see what the big deal about javascript is anyway. If you want a browser based chess game, turn on javascript! Javascript allows me to right full blown applications, many of which are faster then if they had been written in C++ (much faster development anyhow). Also you can refresh a page with javascript by using frameID.location.replace($url) in IE, netscape should be similar. Check out faqts.com for some good reading on javascript (and PHP). Chris On Fri, 20 Oct 2000, Matthew Mundy wrote: > Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 13:11:40 -0400 > To: "Michael J. Seely" <mseely@cimworld.com> > From: Matthew Mundy <mmundy1@gl.umbc.edu> > Subject: Re: [PHP] need an idea, please help > > Neat idea, except if the players use something besides a mail queue > (pop3) then they would have to know when to check their mail for the > new > mail and we are back where we started. But that would work in some > situations. Thanks for the idea. > ---Matt > > On Fri, 20 Oct 2000, Michael J. Seely wrote: > > > HI Matt > > I've started to do this on a few occasions but have never had > > the time to finish. The approach I was going to use is simple. > > Use the Mail function to send the next person an e-mail with > > a link to a web page. This is a php page and takes 64 field/value > > arguments. i.e., > > > > http://theserver.com/thepage.php3?a1=br&a2=bb&a3=bk and so > > on. > > When the person clicks on the link, the page builds the board > > for them and waits for them to hit a <FORM> send button that has > > their move info. > > Using a naming convention for images, you need to make a > > black and white image for each piece, i.e., black king=bk, white > > pawn=wp, ... . Use a table with BGCOLOR set for each <TD> This will > > > make the checkerboard pattern for the board. You could use a fill > > image, i.e., <TD BACKGROUND="wood.jpg">to make the board look like > > wood, marble,... > > > > Part of the process could write a text file that keeps a log of all > > > moves. If you don't want to pass the board layout in the url, you > can > > write the same info to a tab-delimited file that is replaced each > > time. Use the EXPLODE function to parse out a1,a2,a3,a4,... values. > > You could add a replay button if you want to get fancy. > > I would suggest building the board html and images first. > > After you get the "look" that you want then make the php to build > it. > > > > Good Luck - Mike > > > > >I am trying to writing a php online chess game as a way to learn > PHP(hey, > > >might as well enjoy the testing process :) ). Does anyone know > how to get > > >the server to send a refresh command to 1 client after the other > has made > > >a move. my only other option that I can see really is to have a > java > > >chat-type applet that when 1 player moves, sends a message to the > other > > >client to hit the refresh button. Any suggestions would be > appreciated. > > >Thanks in advance. > > >---Matt > > >PS. Sorry if this rather an obvious thing to ask. I have much to > learn > > >but I am trying. > > > > > > > > >-- > > >PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > > >To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net > > >For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net > > >To contact the list administrators, e-mail: > php-list-admin@lists.php.net > > > > -- > > > > > > >>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'>'> > > Michael Seely mseely@cimworld.com 408-777-9949 > > > > > -- > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net > For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net > To contact the list administrators, e-mail: > php-list-admin@lists.php.net >